Deep sequence characterisation of a divergent HPIV-4a from an adult with prolonged influenza-like illness

Abstract

Human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV-4) subtypes 4a and 4b are seldom sought during molecular diagnostic screening of respiratory samples from patients with influenza like illnesses (ILIs). Nonetheless, HPIV-4a and HPIV-4b are to be found in such cases, occasionally in the absence of another pathogen. Little is known about the spectrum of genetic variation among HPIV-4 genotypes; thus the impact of genetic change on transmission, pathogenicity, and shedding cannot yet be quantified. We deduced the near-complete genome of a divergent genotype of HPIV-4a (QPID08-0015) identified in a respiratory tract sample from an adult with prolonged ILI in Victoria, Australia, in 2008. Two other variants had ..